He said the payment of rebate would be transferred automatically into the balance of the customer's account within 24 hours after an airtime purchase.

"The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) is monitoring the development and we have also asked telecommunications companies from time to time to explain (to their customers) the rebate," he told reporters at a Christmas open house organised by Penampang UMNO, here.

Salleh said the rebate did not mean GST on prepaid cards had been scrapped.

"We are only giving rebate to Malaysian citizens, not to foreigners," he said.